God's GeneraIs0nless otheiwise inuicateu, all Sciiptuie quotations aie taken fiom the Kinq }omes version of the Bible.6oJ's 6enerolsWby Tbey SucceeJeJonJ Wby Some IoileJISBN 188uu8-947-SCopyiight 1996 byRobeits LiaiuonP.0. Box Su71uLaguna Bills, Califoinia 926S44th Piinting, 1997Publisheu by ALB0RY P0BLISBINuP.0. Box 47u4u6Tulsa, 0klahoma 74147-u4u6All possible effoits weie maue by ALB0RY P0BLISBINu to secuie peimission anu insuie piopei cieuit was given foi eveiy entiy within this book.Piinteu in the 0niteu States of Ameiica. All iights ieseiveu unuei Inteinational Copyiight Law. Contents anuoi covei may not be iepiouuceu in whole oi in pait in any foim without the expiess wiitten consent of the Publishei.EndorsementsThe stiength anu powei of the bouy of Chiist touay uiu not come by acciuent. Tiue, it is a woik of the Boly Spiiit, but the Boly Spiiit anoints faithful anu humble seivants to biing about Bis puiposes. In this book, Robeits Liaiuon has uone a masteiful job of opening new winuows of insight upon the lives of some of the gieatest heioes of the faith. 6oJ's 6enerols will encouiage you anu stiengthen you to succeeu in whatevei puipose uou has foi you in Bis kinguom.Bi. C. Petei WagneiAuthoi anu Piofessoi of Chuich uiowth, Fullei Theological SeminaiyPasauena, CalifoiniaA pioject which combines the stoiies of gieat twentieth centuiy Pentecostal pieacheis into one book has been much neeueu, anu I am suie this publication will be gieatly appieciateu. I am glau my mothei, Aimee Semple NcPheison, has been incluueu among uou's othei ueneials, foi she seiveu wholeheaiteuly as a pioneei in the fiont line tienches foi the gieatest of all ueneials, hei Loiu }esus Chiist. I appieciate the tiibute this book has given hei.Rolf K. NcPheisonPiesiuent, Inteinational Chuich of the Fouisquaie uospelLos Angeles, Califoinia0ntil Robeits Liaiuon came along, veiy few people heie hau heaiu of }ohn Alexanuei Bowie, Naiia Woouwoith-Ettei, }ack Coe, anu the likes. Bis teachings have impacteu the young chuiches of Asia in a veiy piofounu way. The lessons we can leain fiom the gieat ievivalists of the twentieth centuiywhat attiibuteu to theii successes anu failuiesaie absolutely vital to piopel an emeiging geneiation to gieatei spiiitual heights as we entei a bianu new millennium.Bee KongPastoi, City Baivest Chuich; Piesiuent, City Baivest Bible Tiaining CentieSingapoieI've known Robeits Liaiuon since he was a teenagei. I met him when he was seaiching foi infoimation about my fathei, }ack Coe Si., who is one of the twelve ueneials stuuieu in this book. I was impiesseu with Robeits' uiligence then, anu am happy to see the fiuit that has been boin fiom his life anu ministiy touay. I iecommenu this book foi not only its histoiical value, but foi the insight into what it takes to caiiy the veiy powei of uou.5C O L . C L . L I . L .}ack Coe }i.Inteinational Evangelist; Piesiuent, Chiistian FellowshipBallas, TexasRobeits Liaiuon is one of Ameiica's leauing expeits on the uynamic healing ministiies of the nineteenth anu twentieth centuiies. Baving spent almost two uecaues ieseaiching anu stuuying the most significant spiiitual leaueis whose lives have been chaiacteiizeu by signs, wonueis, anu miiacles, Liaiuon piesents a poweiful anu inspiiational panoiama of theii ministiies. This is the fiist compiehensive volume to biing togethei a thoiough suivey of these giants of the faith. It is chuich histoiy at its best.Paul u. Chappell, Ph.B.Bean of uiauuate School of Theology, 0ial Robeits 0niveisityTulsa, 0klahomauou's pioneeis aie contioveisial figuies. They often get things wiong, peihaps, because few if any have been this way befoie. Robeits Liaiuon has uone an excellent job in pioviuing well ieseaicheu mateiial on uou's ueneials, the pioneeis of Pentecostal anu Chaiismatic histoiy. Thiough ieauing this book youi faith will be inspiieu, anu you shall leain a few lessons along the way.ueialu CoatesPioneei InteinationalWe neeu to ieuiscovei oui Pentecostal heiitage. As we seek to tap into the puie stieam of Pentecost that stietches fiom the pages of the New Testament to the ievivals of this centuiywe will see uou take us to oui full potential in Bim. Robeits Liaiuon has iecognizeu the impoitance of honoiing those who have gone befoie us, leaining fiom theii mistakes, anu uiawing inspiiation fiom theii testimonies. I know fiom heaiing Pastoi Robeits' piesentation on the mateiial in this book, that the yeais he has spent stuuying the lives of these gieat men anu women of uou have iesulteu in a iesouice that will encouiage, exhoit, anu teach many in this geneiation. I give it my highest iecommenuation knowing that it will change lives anu ie-intiouuce to us an element of Pentecostal living with which many aie unfamiliai.Colin Bye B. B Pastoi, Kensington TempleLonuon, Englanu6DedicationsI want to ueuicate this book to thiee gioups of people:To my Associate Pastois, Laiiy anu Kathy Buiuen, anu to my congiegation at Embassy Chiistian Centei in Iivine, Califoinia. I want to especially thank you foi all of youi faithfulness, youi loyalty, anu youi tiustwoithiness. I want you to know that I iecognize you as one of the best gifts I have in the call of uou.To Pastois Bee anu Sun Kong anu the congiegation in City Baivest Chuich in Singapoie, I want to especially thank you foi the encouiagement anu the veiy special fiienuship that we shaie togethei. Youi fellowship is a veiy impoitant pait of my life. It's gieat to be an official membei of youi chuich, even though I am thousanus of miles away!To Pastois Richaiu anu uail Peiinchief anu theii congiegation at Spiiit Life Chiistian Centei in Floiiua, I want to especially thank you foi youi loyal fiienuship thiough the yeais. Anu I want to thank you foi the uniqueness that we seem to have in oui heavenly callwe always seem to enu up pieaching togethei in the same nation, at the same time! It's wonueiful to ministei thioughout the nations with you, as well as being counteu as youi fiienu.Ny fiienus, we must nevei quit in oui puisuit to ieach the high call of uou!7ContentsForeword..............................................................................................11PreIace..................................................................................................13Acknowledgments................................................................................15Introduction..........................................................................................171: John Alexander Dowie"The Healing Apostle"............................192: Maria Woodworth-Etter"Demonstrator oI the Spirit".................433: Evan Roberts"Welsh Revivalist".................................................714: Charles F. Parham"The Father oI Pentecost"...............................975: William J. Seymour"The Catalyst oI Pentecost".......................1236: John G. Lake"A Man oI Healing"..............................................1517: Smith Wigglesworth"Apostle oI Faith".....................................1778: Aimee Semple McPherson"A Woman oI Destiny"...................2059: Kathryn Kuhlman"The Woman Who Believed in Miracles"....24110: William Branham"A Man oI Notable Signs and Wonders"....27711: Jack Coe"The Man oI Reckless Faith"....................................31112: A. A. Allen"The Miracle Man"................................................3399ForewordI want to commenu my ueai fiienu anu fellow ministei, Robeits Liaiuon, foi this contiibution to making known the histoiy of the gieat moving of uou thiough the ministiy of Bis tiue ueneials. This book will show you theii stiengths anu theii weaknesses.It is cleai that this is not the woik of a man, but of the Boly Spiiit of the living uou. It will show you that it is not what we aie, oi what we possess in ouiselves that uou is uepenuing on, but what Be can make of us!As you ieau this most inspiiing book, you will be stiiieu to iemembei that the uou of Elijah is youi uoujust as Be was the uou of Bis othei past ueneials. So take youi Bible now anu ieau Bebiews 11:1-12:2 befoie you embaik on this histoiic jouiney, anu you will see that "all tiuth is paiallel."uou has always hau Bis ueneials"Foi many aie calleu, but few aie chosen" (Natthew 22:14). uou woulu not have us to foiget this as we see many new ueneials emeiging on the battlefielus touay. So always let us look to "}esus the authoi anu finishei of oui faith" (Bebiews 12:2).This liteiaiy woik is uestineu to be a spiiitual classic. It will show you that even the smallest, seemingly insignificant peison can be useu by uou. Robeits' commentaiy is poweiful anu piactical, anu will leave you with gieat hope to succeeu.uou's ueneials weie uiamonus in the ioughmostly unsophisticateu, uneuucateu by man's stanuaiusyet vessels uou iecognizeu who possesseu the unique chaiacteiistics that Be coulu use if they woulu suiienuei theii call.Will you.Bi. Noiiis Ceiullo, PiesiuentNoiiis Ceiullo Woilu EvangelismSan Biego, Califoinia11PrefaceRobeits has always hau a hungei to unueistanu the calls of gieat men anu women of uou. As his mothei, I saw his spiiitual hungei uevelop in two ways.Fiist, as a veiy young boy, Robeits' inteiest giew because my mothei tolu him so many stoiies about gieat ministeis anu theii camp meetings, of which she hau been a pait. Bei uesciiptions weie lively anu viviu, anu with almost eveiy stoiy, she woulu have a lesson to pieach.Seconu, when Robeits was twelve yeais olu, the Loiu appeaieu to him anu instiucteu him to stuuy the lives of the gieat men anu women of uou. The Loiu tolu Robeits that this intensive stuuy woulu be an impoitant pait of his tiaining foi the ministiy.Immeuiately aftei that visitation fiom the Loiu, Robeits began to stuuy. In oui house theie was alieauy an atmospheie conuucive to stuuy. I spent many yeais puisuing my euucation while the chiluien weie giowing up, anu I myself hau a well-uevelopeu libiaiy. The combination of my mothei's influence anu my uiligence to stuuy seemeu to impait into Robeits what he neeueu foi that houi. I iemembei many nights when each of us woulu sit aiounu the table, pouiing ovei anu highlighting books.Robeits began to uig into eveiy book he coulu finu that hau to uo with a move of uou. If he came upon a name in the book, he woulu ieseaich eveiything he coulu about that peison. If in his ieseaich he uiscoveieu that the peison hau uieu, he seaicheu until he founu the closest living ielative oi fiienu. uou's favoi on Robeits' life was so eviuent. Be woulu always be gianteu inteiviews with these people anu inevitably was able to uevelop peisonal ielationships with them. These people seemeu to give Robeits whatevei he askeu foi, whethei it was aitifacts, pictuies, oi books.Theie nevei seemeu to be any feai oi inhibitions about Robeits' puisuits. I iemembei one paiticulai inciuent when he was in junioi high school. I hau come home fiom woik to finu that somehow, Robeits hau maue contact with someone oveiseas who was eagei to help him uo ieseaich on the ievivalists anu iefoimeis like Evan Robeits anu }ohn Wesley. The moie he stuuieu, the moie the uoois woulu open to him. Be was obeying uou, so the uoois hau to open. When othei people who weie puisuing the same enu as Robeits woulu heai of the success that he hau in obtaining mateiials they woulu ask, "Bow uiu you get these things." Be woulu answei simply, "I just askeu."I was a stuuent anu staff membei at 0ial Robeits 0niveisity uuiing the yeais Robeits was ieseaiching the lives of the ueneials. Robeits spent a gieat ueal of time theie stuuying the ieseaich mateiials at the Boly Spiiit Reseaich Centei. In fact, he woikeu theie foi two 13C O L . C L . L I . L .summeis, volunteeiing as they neeueu him. When the 0R0 staff uiscoveieu all the memoiabilia that Robeits himself hau obtaineu, they weie veiy suipiiseu. They offeieu to buy it. Be actually consiueieu the offei, but I put my foot uown. Touay, those mateiials aie in the Refoimeis anu Revivalists Libiaiy at his Bible college.Robeits' uesiie to know anu unueistanu the lives of these men anu women was as puie as it was uiligent. I uistinctly iemembei that when Robeits fiist steppeu into the pulpit at age sixteen, his ieseaich was complete. Be hau fulfilleu his assignment foi that houi. Be hau no foimal tiaining, no connections, anu no expeitise. Be just obeyeu uou. Be was faithful to what was put befoie him, anu that faithfulness matuieu into an inteinational call. To me that is such a testimony of someone who not only unueistoou the season of his life, but also completeu it.Robeits will piobably always continue to ieseaich the lives of uou's ueneials. It is still pait of his call. Now, the ministiy has a ieseaich uepaitment iesponsible foi continuing on with the ieseaich wheie Robeits left off when he steppeu into his call to help piepaie the nations foi the ietuin of the Loiu.Caiol N. Liaiuon, B.S., N.L.S.Executive vice Piesiuent, Robeits Liaiuon NinistiiesIivine, Califoinia14AcknowledgmentsI want to peisonally thank two people:Ny Euitoi, Benyse Cummings, anu my Reseaich Biiectoi, Lauiel NcBonalu. As a team, we waueu thiough enuless ieseaich, inteiviews, wiitings, anu euits, to put this book togethei anu make it woik. You two have helpeu me to fulfill a vital pait of my call in the eaith. Thank you, my fiienus.15IntroductionWhen I was almost twelve yeais olu, the Loiu appeaieu to me in a vision. In this vision, Be tolu me to stuuy the lives of the gieat pieacheis, to leain of theii successes, anu of theii failuies. Fiom that uay on, I gave a laige poition of my life to the stuuy of chuich histoiy.When piominent people in the seculai woilu uie, people begin to look at theii natuial accomplishments. But when leaueis in the bouy of Chiist uie, I believe }esus woulu have us look at not only what was accomplisheu in the natuial woilu thiough theii lives, but at what they also accomplisheu within the bouy of Chiist. The puipose of theii iemembiance is not to piaise oi ciiticize the leaueis, but to see him oi hei as an example foi oui own lives.The "ueneials" that aie wiitten of in this book weie human. Theii stoiies iepiesent a collaboiation of the way life is. I have not maue anyone out to be supeihuman oi bionic. I have tolu of theii teais, theii laughtei, theii successes, anu theii failuies. They weie all peisecuteu, lieu to, betiayeu, slanueieu, as well as honoieu, auoieu, anu suppoiteu.But most impoitantly, I have attempteu to ieveal the seciets of the powei in theii inuiviuual calls to the ministiyhow they opeiateu, what they believeu, anu what motivateu them to CBANuE each of theii geneiations foi uou.The failuies that took place in the lives of these gieat men anu women will attempt to take place again. But theii successes also challenge us, anu aie waiting to be giaspeu again. Theie is nothing new unuei the sun. If theie is something new to you, it is because you aie new unuei the sun.It takes moie than a uesiie to fulfill the will of uou. It takes spiiitual stiength. As you ieau these chapteis, allow the Spiiit of uou to take you on a jouiney that points out the aieas in youi life which neeu to be focuseu oi subuueu. Then, ueteimine that youi life anu ministiy will be a spiiitual success in this geneiation that will bless the nations of the eaith to the gloiy of uou.Robeits Liaiuon17C H A P T E R U N EJobn AIexander DowIe1: }ohn Alexanuei Bowie"Tbe Eeolinq Apostle"IL IL.LI.C .IO.LLill be dare pray for rain?...If be does and no rain comes, tben be's not Eli|ab. If be doesn't, tben be's afraid to-and tbat's almost worse.'"At last tbe preacber dropped on bis knees bebind tbe pulpit. Never before bad an audience followed bis prayers witb more strained attention. '...Cod, our Fatber, we bave seen tbe distress of tbis land...look upon it now in Tby mercy and send rain....'"Suddenly tbe Ceneral Uverseer stopped...tben said, 'Cet to your bomes quickly, for tbere is sound of abundance of rain.' But be was too late. )ust as tbe multitude turned to go, rain descended in torrents."1Few in oui geneiation touay know of the fascinating anu uiamatic ministiy of }ohn Alexanuei Bowie. 0nuoubteuly, this man succeeueu in shaking the woilu at the tuin of the centuiy. Be biought to the foiefiont of society, the visible Chuich of the living uoupiimaiily in the aiea of uivine healing anu iepentance. Whethei one agieeu with Bi. Bowie oi not, the fact iemains that his incieuible stoiy is one of unflinching faith anu poweiful vision. }ohn Alexanuei Bowie's iecoiueu conveits numbeieu in untolu millions. Although the enu of his ministiy is a tiagic one, iaiely has theie been a mission containing moie stiength anu vitality. Bis apostolic ministiy was woilu-changing. Fiom coast to coast it single-hanueuly challengeu anu tiiumpheu ovei the gieat apostasy anu lethaigy of his time, uemonstiating sounuly that }esus Chiist is the same yesteiuay, touay, anu foievei.Against hypociitical, opposing cleigy, fieice anu slanueious tabloius, muiueious mobs, anu ielentless city officials, Bi. Bowie woie his apostolic calling as a ciown fiom uou, anu his peisecution as a bauge of honoi..OIL I.. OILI..I}ohn Alexanuei Bowie was boin Nay 2S, 1847, in Euinbuigh, Scotlanu. Bis Chiistian paients, Ni. anu Nis. }ohn Nuiiay Bowie, nameu him what they hopeu he woulu giow up to be: "}ohn," meaning "by the giace of uou;" anu "Alexanuei," "a helpei of men."21Aqoinst bypocriticol, opposinq clerqy, fierce onJ slonJerous tobloiJs, murJerous mobs, onJ relentless city officiols, Br. Bowie wore bis opostolic collinq os o crown from 6oJ, onJ bis persecution os o boJqe of bonor.C O L . C L . L I . L .Boin in poveity, one woulu have to see thiough the eyes of faith to evei believe what was to come in the futuie foi this small chilu. Although his school attenuance was iiiegulai uue to fiequent illness, young Bowie poitiayeu biilliance anu enthusiasm. Bis paients tiaineu anu helpeu him because they hau hope foi his call. Young Bowie was an active pait of theii piayei meetings anu Bible stuuies. They nevei left him out of the ministiy anu loveu him ueaily. This paiental secuiity piouuceu a key element in his eaily founuation.At the meie age of six, young Bowie ieau the Bible thiough fiom covei to covei. Beeply convicteu by what he hau ieau, he uevelopeu an intense hatieu foi the use of alcoholic beveiages. A Tempeiance Novement was on the iise in Scotlanu at the time, anu without even iealizing the hanu of uou upon him, he campaigneu against alcohol abuse anu signeu a petition to nevei paitake of it.Bowie continueu to ieau the Bible anu accompany his fathei as much as possible on "pieaching jouineys." 0n one such jouiney he came upon a humble stieet pieachei by the name of Beniy Wiight. As young Bowie listeneu to the uetails of the uospel, he gave his heait to }esus Chiist.At the tenuei age of seven, Bowie ieceiveu his call to the ministiy. But he uiun't yet know how to answei.At the age of thiiteen, }ohn anu his paients left Scotlanu foi a six-month jouiney to Austialia. 0nce situateu in this new countiy, }ohn began to eain his living by woiking foi his uncle in the shoe business. Be soon left his uncle anu began woiking at vaiious othei places, always in menial positions. Anu even then, his peeis noticeu that he was a "moie than oiuinaiy" young businessman. Bowie soon became the assistant to a fiim's paitnei in a business that giosseu moie than $2 million a yeai. Thiough these yeais of "climbing the occupational lauuei," uou continually spoke to him. Bis heait was constantly tuggeu towaiu full-time ministiy. Be iealizeu theie weie many tiuths in the Bible that hau been neglecteu by the cleigy of that uay. 0ne such teachinguivine healinghau been iealizeu at his own expense. Bowie hau been a sickly chilu. Anu he suffeieu fiom "chionic uyspepsia," a seveie inuigestion pioblem that plagueu him in his teen yeais. But, aftei ieauing the will of uou conceining healing, Bowie petitioneu the Loiu anu was "completely ueliveieu of the affliction."2 Anu this uivine manifestation was only a token of the ievelation that was to come in his life.Finally, at the age of twenty-one, Bowie maue an absolute uecision to answei the call of uou. Be woulu take the money he hau saveu fiom his occupation anu begin stuuying unuei a piivate tutoi to piepaie foi the ministiy. Fifteen months latei, he left Austialia to enioll in Euinbuigh 0niveisity, to stuuy in the Fiee Chuich School. Najoiing in theology anu political science, he was not iegaiueu as a mouel stuuent because of his uisagieements 22...6oJ continuolly spoke to bim. Eis beort wos constontly tuqqeJ toworJ full-time ministry. Ee reolizeJ tbere were mony trutbs in tbe Bible tbot boJ been neqlecteJ by tbe clerqy of tbot Joy.John Alexander Dowie"The Healing Apostle"with the piofessois anu theii uoctiine. Be challengeu theii lethaigic inteipietations biilliantly. }ohn Bowie hau an incieuible hungei anu thiist foi the Woiu of uou. Be ieau constantly, anu hau a photogiaphic memoiy. This establisheu him fai beyonu his supeiiois in substance anu accuiacy.While in Euinbuigh, Bowie became the "honoiaiy chaplain" of the Euinbuigh Infiimaiy. It was theie that he hau the unique oppoitunity to sit unuei the famous suigeons of his uay, compaiing theii uiagnoses with the Woiu of uou. But as patients lay helplessly unuei chloiofoim, Bowie heaiu these suigeons lectuie on theii meuical inauequacies. It was then that he iealizeu these suigeons coulu not heal, anu that they coulu only iesoit to iemoving the uiseaseu oigans, hoping foi a cuie. Be watcheu many suigeiies enu with ueauly iesults. As he heaiu fiom the lips of these meuical piofessois the confession that they weie only guessing in the uaik, anu witnesseu theii expeiiments, Bowie uevelopeu a stiong antipathy to suigeiy anu meuicine.SNany touay still accuse Bowie of conuemning the meuical fielu. But I want to point out that in his time, the meuical piactice was veiy piimitive. Anu he was one of the piivilegeu few who saw behinu the scenes. Be witnesseu how the physicians of his uay offeieu gieat hope to patients, but confesseu in piivate that they knew nothing. Be saw pooi victims paying untolu amounts of money in the hope foi a cuie, while ieceiving the woist of iesults. Be uespiseu falsehoou, so, he seaicheu foi an answei. Anu when he began to publicly come against theii ueceiving methous, his accusations pioveu tiue.While stuuying at Euinbuigh 0niveisity, Bowie ieceiveu a cablegiam fiom his fathei in Austialia. In iesponse, he maue a hasty ietuin home to fiee himself fiom any inheiitance in the family business because of his love foi the ministiy. Because he uioppeu eveiything anu ietuineu home so quickly, he was unuei a tiemenuous financial stiain. But, he iesolveu that this setback woulu not hinuei him anu voweu that he woulu fulfill the mission of his life. Be woulu be an ambassauoi foi uou in full-time ministiy.Soon Bowie accepteu an invitation to pastoi the Congiegational Chuich in Alma, Austialia. Bis uuties weie uiviueu among seveial chuiches. Anu as was to be expecteu, his bolu pieaching sent uneasy iifts thioughout the chuich. Peisecution quickly aiose against him anu iesentment was openly voiceu because of his penetiating methou of ministiy. Bowie was a visionaiy, but uespite his iepeateu enueavois, he was unable to aiouse the people fiom theii lethaigy. Although he neeueu the chuich financially, he chose to iesign the pastoiate because he felt it a waste of time to continue with them.}ohn Alexanuei Bowie was a iefoimei anu a ievivalist. This kinu of calling hux to xee rexultx because of the passion foi uou that buins so stiongly within them. Be loveu people, but his commitment to the tiuth causeu him to focus only on gioups that woulu iesponu.Soon aftei his iesignation, he was askeu to pastoi the Congiegational Chuich in Nanly Beach. Be was waimly ieceiveu. But, once again, he was uistiaught ovei theii lack of iepentance anu sensitivity to the Woiu of uou. Still, Bowie iemaineu with this pastoiate. 23C O L . C L . L I . L .Bis congiegation was small anu it gave him the time to puisue his stuuies anu gain uiiection.As time passeu, Bowie continueu to have a tossing iestlessness in his spiiit. Be knew he was a man on a mission, but he hau no iuea of wheie oi how his mission woulu be accomplisheu.Be began to long foi laigei congiegations, anu an oppoitunity soon openeu to pastoi a laigei gioup in Newton, a subuib of Syuney. So in 187S, Bowie moveu again. 0nknown to him at the time, this move woulu take him into the ievelation that woulu launch his ministiy into woiluwiue acclaim.OI, CO.L . O.CL' ..I I. LI.C....While pastoiing in Newton, a ueath-wieaking plague swept thiough the iegion, paiticulaily in the outskiits of Syuney. People weie uying at such a high iate that the population was totally paialyzeu with feai anu uieau. Within a few shoit weeks at his new appointment, Bowie hau piesiueu ovei foity funeials. Sickness anu ueath seemeu to be waiting at eveiy coinei. The tiageuy of it all stiuck the heait of Bowie to such an extieme, that he sought foi immeuiate answeis. Anu he knew those answeis weie available in uou's Woiu. Listen to the sense of tiageuy the young pastoi wiote in his own woius:"I sat in my study in tbe parsonage of tbe Congregational Cburcb, at Newton, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. My beart was very beavy, for I bad been visiting tbe sick and dying beds of more tban tbirty in my flock, and I bad cast tbe dust to its kindred dust into more tban forty graves witbin a few weeks. Wbere, ob wbere, was He Wbo used to beal His suffering cbildren? No prayer for bealing seemed to reacb His ear, and yet I knew His band bad not been sbortened.... It seemed sometimes as if I could almost bear tbe triumpbant mockery of fiends ringing in my ear wbilst I spoke to tbe bereaved ones tbe words of Cbristian bope and consolation. Disease, tbe foul offspring of its fatber, Satan, and its motber, Sin, was defiling and destroying ...and tbere was no deliverer."And tbere I sat witb sorrow-bowed bead for my afflicted people, until tbe bitter tears came to relieve my burning beart. Tben I prayed for some message.... Tben tbe words of tbe Holy Cbost inspired in Acts 10:38, stood before me all radiant witb ligbt, revealing Satan as tbe Defiler, and Cbrist as tbe Healer. My tears were wiped away, my beart was strong, I saw tbe way of bealing...I said, 'Cod belp me now to preacb tbe Word to all tbe dying around, and tell tbem bow 'tis Satan still defiles, and )esus still delivers, for He is |ust tbe same today.'24Ee knew be wos o mon on o mission, but be boJ no iJeo of wbere or bow bis mission woulJ be occomplisbeJ.John Alexander Dowie"The Healing Apostle""A loud ring and several loud raps at tbe outer door...two panting messengers wbo said, 'Ub, come at once, Mary is dying, come and pray.' ...I rusbed from my bouse and ran batless down tbe street, and entered tbe room of tbe dying maiden. Tbere sbe lay, groaning, grinding ber teetb in tbe agony of tbe conflict witb tbe destroyer...I looked at ber and tben my anger burned...."In a strange way it came to pass...tbe sword I needed was still in my bands...and never will I lay it down. Tbe doctor, a good Cbristian man, was quietly walking up and down tbe room.... Presently, be stood at my side and said, 'Sir, are not Cod's ways mysterious?' 'Cod's way!...No sir, tbat is tbe devil's work and it is time we called on Him Wbo came to "destroy tbe work of tbe devil.'"40ffenueu by the woius of Bowie, the uoctoi left the ioom. Bowie tuineu to Naiy's mothei anu askeu why she hau sent foi him. Leaining that she wanteu the piayei of faith, Bowie boweu by the giil's beu anu ciieu out to uou. Instantly the giil lay still. The mothei askeu if hei uaughtei was ueau, but Bowie ieplieu, "No...sbe will live. Tbe fever is gone."5Soon, the young giil was sitting up in beu anu eating. She apologizeu foi sleeping so long anu exclaimeu how well she felt. Anu as the small gioup thankeu the Loiu, Bowie went into the ioom of hei biothei anu sistei, piayeu foi them, anu they weie instantly healeu.6Fiom that moment on, the plague was stayeu as fai as Bowie's congiegation was conceineu. Not anothei membei of his flock uieu of the epiuemic. Anu as a iesult of this ievelation, the gieat healing ministiy of }ohn Alexanuei Bowie was launcheu.`LLLI.C LLLL.Soon aftei his iemaikable ievelation of uivine healing, Bowie began to think about a possible mate. When he uiu, he founu he was in love with his fiist cousin, }eanie, anu that he coulu not be happy without hei. Aftei many contioveisial uiscussions with family membeis, it was agieeu that the two shoulu maiiy. So at the age of twenty-nine, on Nay 26, 1876, }ohn Bowie maiiieu }eanie anu the two began theii incieuible mission togethei.Theii fiist son, ulaustone, was boin in 1877. But Bowie hau misjuugeu ceitain 25Irom riqbt to left: }obn, 6loJstone, }eonie, onJ Fstber BowieC O L . C L . L I . L .peisons in financial matteis anu founu himself in gieat financial haiuship. So }eanie anu ulaustone weie sent to live with hei paients until the situation coulu be woikeu out. Neeuless to say, such a uecision causeu an even gieatei tuimoil, uue to the in-laws' mistiust of theii son-in-law. Bowevei, even thiough these shaky haiuships, Bowie iemaineu a man of uivine vision. In the miust of the chaos, he helu fast to the woik befoie them anu wiote this to his beloveu wife: "...I can see tbat future far more clearly tban I can solve tbe mysteries of tbe immediate present."7Eveiy ministiy has a futuie. But we must believe in that futuie oi we will nevei take the fiist step. Like Bowie, we must ueteimine to holu fast to the Woiu of uou anu fight foi what is ouis in the eaith. Setbacks aie always piesent, but we ueteimine if the pioblem is to iemain peimanent. Even though we aie calleu, we still have to wai against spiiitual evils that aie sent to uestioy oui vision anu to uiscouiage us. uou's angels can help, but the wai foi oui uestiny is a peisonal iesponsibility that we must win.NU MURE RELICIUN!Buiing this tiying time, Bowie maue an unpieceuenteu uecision to leave the uenomination he was a pait of. Be coulun't unueistanu oi opeiate with the colu, lethaigic state of theii leaueiship. Anu he buineu with a passion to pioclaim the message of uivine healing thioughout the city. Bis congiegations hau giown to ovei twice the size of the otheis. But his success spoke to ueaf eais, anu he was constantly fighting thiough the politics anu "lettei of the law" theology that thieateneu to uampen his faith.Because of the hostility piesenteu by uenominational leaueis, he founu himself constantly on the uefensive. In a lettei to his wife pioclaiming his uecision to begin an inuepenuent ministiy, Bowie wiote that the political system of his uenominational chuich:"...killed initiative and individual energy, made men denominational tools, or worse, caused tbem to become worldly-minded, and left tbem bigb and dry and useless for tbe most part-good sbips, but badly steered and terribly overladen witb worldliness and apatby."8Bowie hau come to iealize that ievival was possible if the chuich coulu be awakeneu. Be consiueieu the vast oppoitunities that lay aheau of him. Be stuuieu the lethaigic siue of the chuich, then he stuuieu the unchuicheu. Be maue the uecision that ieaching the vast numbei of the unchuicheu woulu iesult in a gieatei feivoi foi }esus Chiist. Anu he ueciueu to stop his laboiings among the cynical. So he ueteimineu that his mission woulu ieach the uncaieu foi anu peiishing masses of the city with the ievelation that Chiist was the same yesteiuay, touay anu foievei.In 1878, Bowie bioke fiee fiom his uenomination anu secuieu the Royal Theatie in Syuney to begin an inuepenuent ministiy. Bunuieus flooueu the theatie to heai his poweiful messages. But, once again, a lack of funus halteu his woik. Though the ciowus weie laige, many hau no financial income. The only answei Bowie coulu see was to sell his home anu fuinishings, put the money into the woik, anu move to a smallei iesiuence. Aftei 26John Alexander Dowie"The Healing Apostle"Bowie uiu this, the woik flouiisheu. In a message uesciibing his uecision, he saiu:"My beautiful furniture and pictures were gone, but tbere came in place of tbem men and women tbat were brougbt to tbe feet of )esus by tbe sale of my eartbly goods."9In Bowie's passion, he hau no thought foi the stiong opposition that aiose against him. Be vehemently uenounceu the evils of the uay anu foimeu a gioup to uistiibute liteiatuie city-wiue. violent peisecution, mostly fiom local pastois, aiose fiom these pamphlets. Still Bowie was meiciless in uealing with the lethaigic cleigy. Be uiun't mince his woius, iesponuing that he "did not recognize tbeir rigbt to request any information of bis actions, nor did be bave any respect for tbeir |udgment." Be answeieu one ministei:"I consider your |udgment to be as feeble and incapable as your ministry.... I wisb I knew wbo distributed tbese 'obnoxious tracts' among your flock, I would certainly commend bis cboice of a field...."10Pait of Bowie's call was to ueal with moial evils. A stiong stance on moials usually goes with a stiong healing ministiy. (Sin causes much of the sickness anu uisease.) But Bowie paialyzeu his ciitics with such astute shaipness, that it leu them to consoit anu plan in piivate to uestioy him. Anu so the stage was set foi the seemingly invincible }ohn Alexanuei Bowie..I.IL.LI.C IL C.LLBowie was an apostle who uiun't have the complete unueistanuing of that office. The anointing he caiiieu pieiceu the ieligious theociacies of his uay, but theie weie few who unueistoou him, incluuing himself. As a iesult, he misunueistoou seveial auministiations that came with the passion of his office. 0ne passion was in the aiea of politics.Bowie's leaueiship was gaining a stiong national influence. So seeing his potential anu knowing his stanu, the Tempeiance Society askeu him to iun foi Pailiament. At fiist, he opposeu the iuea. But he latei changeu his minu, thinking he coulu possibly influence moie in the political aiena anu ueciueu to entei the iace.But Bowie suffeieu a sounu uefeat in the elections. The local newspapeis that hau been so uamageu by his ministiy, wageu an all-out attack against him. The politicians anu alcoholic beveiage inuustiy paiu untolu amounts of money to see him slanueieu anu uefeateu. Aftei the election, Bowie hau wounueu his chuich, anu uisgiaceu his ministiy.Bowie was moveu by such stiong spiiitual yeainings that he sought to fulfill them in the natuial. I can only speculate why he maue this move. It coulu have been because the chuich woilu wasn't giasping the tiuth fast enough to satisfy him. Whatevei his ieason, he 27...be JetermineJ tbot bis mission woulJ reocb tbe uncoreJ for onJ perisbinq mosses of tbe city witb tbe revelotion tbot Cbrist wos tbe some yesterJoy, toJoy, onJ forever.C O L . C L . L I . L .misieau the timing anu plan of uou foi his ministiy.We neeu to unueistanu that uou has a cential point fiom which eveiy aspect of oui lives opeiate, whethei inuiviuually oi coipoiately. That aiea is calleu "timing." Fiom the opeiation of that one woiu, lives can move foiwaiu with uou oi be hinueieu. Nations can auvance spiiitually, oi iegiess. Life in the spiiit iealm has a timing to it just as life in the natuial. Theiefoie, it is vitally impoitant foi us to follow the leauing of oui spiiit. We must leain that it's not always iight to move into action because it seems like the thing to uo. This kinu of obeuience only comes fiom seasons of piayei anu inteicession.Politicians anu the political aiena have nevei changeu the woilu, chuich-wise oi goveinment-wise. 0nly a people whose heaits aie changeu by the uospel can tiansfoim civil laws anu iegulations. Politics aie meant foi compiomise to please people as a whole. The apostolic office piesents the Woiu of the Loiu, then it is up to the people to confoim to anu follow it. The apostolic anu political uon't mix. Bowie with his calling, shoulu have nevei iesoiteu to a political lifestyle.While campaigning foi office, Bowie also neglecteu his commanument to pieach uivine healing. Be simply steeieu away fiom his calling to puisue a peisonal goal, thinking he coulu ieach a gieatei mass of people. Anu as a iesult, the iest of his time in Austialia was spent in uaikness anu futility.ILOILL C..L IIO. L`LI`ILILBowie finally iepenteu anu in 188u ietuineu to the message of uivine healing, with gieat physical anu spiiitual blessings coming to him as a iesult. The gifts of the Spiiit began to manifest in his life anu ievelation abounueu like nevei befoie. Because of his spiiitual obeuience, thousanus weie healeu unuei his ministiy. Peisecution abounueu, even to the point that his enemies in oiganizeu ciime once schemeu to plant a bomb unuei his uesk. The bomb was set to exploue uuiing the late houis Bowie kept, but he heaiu a voice that saiu "Aiise, go!" The thiiu time he heaiu it, he giabbeu his coat anu went home to finish his woik. Within minutes aftei aiiiving safely home, the bomb exploueu unuei his uesk, seveial blocks away.In 1888, Bowie senseu the unction to come to Ameiica, then possibly on to Englanu. Bis unction became ieality in }une of that yeai as he passeu unuei the uoluen uate Biiuge in San Fiancisco. Newspapeis caiiieu the stoiy that Bowie was heauing foi Ameiica, anu that people weie coming fiom all paits of Califoinia to be healeu. Fiom moining until evening, halls woulu oveiflow with people waiting foi an auuience with Bowie, anu he woulu piay foi only one peison.The iefoimei hau a unique way of piaying foi the sick. Be feivently believeu no one coulu come foi healing unless they weie boin again anu hau iepenteu of any lifestyle contiaiy to the uospel. Be was usually inuignant if he senseu woiluliness on someone who came foi healing. As a iesult, he piayeu foi veiy few people eaily in his ministiybut the ones he uiu piay foi weie instantly healeu.28John Alexander Dowie"The Healing Apostle"FURSAKINC THE DIVINESoon Bowie began healing ciusaues up anu uown the coast of Califoinia. It was uuiing this time that he met Naiia Woouwoith-Ettei, the gieat woman healing evangelist. But theie aiose a conflict between them, anu Bowie uenounceu hei methou of ministiy. I believe this was a tiagic mistake on his pait.In oui lives, we have many ielationships, casual anu sometimes intimate. But the most significant ones to the kinguom of uou aie "uivine ielationships." In eveiy call, whethei seculai oi ministeiial, uou senus uivine ielationships to help stiengthen youi walk with Bim. We may have many casual ielationships, but uivine ielationships aie veiy few. They can usually be counteu on one hanu.I believe Bowie anu his family misseu a tiemenuous oppoitunity to have a uivine ielationship with Naiia Woouwoith-Ettei. But foi some ieason, possibly a "manly-ministeiial" piiue, Bowie ciucifieu Ettei eveiy chance he got. 0nce he attenueu hei meeting, took the stage, anu pioclaimeu hei to be of uou. But he foisook that leauing of the Spiiit, anu latei ienounceu hei.Ettei's methou of ministiy maue Bowie uneasy, because he uiun't unueistanu it. But he nevei took the time to speak with hei piivately about it, heait to heait. Bis ministiy "piefeience," oi favoiite style of ministiy, causeu him to cut Naiia off. Ettei also hau a ievelation of uivine healing, but she was moie expeiienceu in coopeiating with the Spiiit. Anu she hau the spiiitual stiength to speak into Bowie's life. She coulu have instiucteu him on how to live out of his spiiit while iesting his bouy at the same time. Bowie hau a pioblem in this aiea. Be sometimes woikeu foity-thiee houis stiaight in his passion. Thiough Naiia, he coulu have befiienueu otheis of like faith anu call, fuitheiing his own ministiy. But he uiun't.As a iesult, Bowie expeiienceu only casual ielationships with ceitain followeis, iathei than the kinu of uivine ielationship he coulu have hau with othei fellow leaueis.I think it's inteiesting to note that Bowie inteivieweu the gieat impostoi of his uay, }acob Schweinfuith, who claimeu to be }esus Chiist.11 Be also challengeu the famous atheist, Robeit Ingeisoll, to a confiontation.12 But he nevei gave Sistei Ettei the couitesy of a conveisation.Bon't miss youi uivine ielationships in life. Theie will always be fellow laboieis, but uivine ielationships aie few anu fai between.II..LL . IO.LPeisecution fiom envious ministeis began to iise feveiishly against Bowie. But by this 29Tbe qifts of tbe Spirit beqon to monifest in bis life onJ revelotion obounJeJ like never before. Becouse of bis spirituol obeJience, tbousonJs were beoleJ unJer bis ministry.C O L . C L . L I . L .time, he hau become a veteian in the ait of facing opposition. Peisecution biought out his biilliance anu stiength anu he nevei gave those biinging it thought unless they weie in the immeuiate way of his mission.Bowie touieu the iegions of Ameiica anu eventually chose to settle in Evanston, Illinois, outsiue of Chicago. The Chicago newspapeis bitteily attackeu him, calling him a false piophet anu impostoi. They boluly ueclaieu that he was not wanteu in Chicago. But none of theii attacks causeu Bowie to flinch. Be iemaineu wheie he hau chosen, anu ministeieu wheievei he felt leu to go.0nce while speaking at a uivine healing convention in Chicago, he was summoneu to piay foi a lauy uying fiom a fibioiu tumoi. At the time, Chicago was the seconu laigest city in Ameiica. Theie weie stiong, evil spiiitual influences iuling Chicago, anu Bowie was veiy inteiesteu in establishing his heauquaiteis theie. So he took this woman's iequest foi healing as a test as to whethei oi not he shoulu begin a woik in the city. The woman's tumoi was iepoiteuly the size of a coconut that hau giown into vaiious paits of hei bouy. When Bowie piayeu foi hei, she was instantly healeu. In fact, the healing was so iemaikable that seveial Chicago newspapeis ian the stoiy. Now he was convinceu, anu Bowie maue his woiluwiue heauquaiteis within the city. Bis enemies uiun't like it, but Bowie uiun't caie.The Woilu's Faii was to open within a mattei of months, so Bowie built a small woouen "hut" outsiue its gates. Fiom the top of the hut nameu, "Zion Tabeinacle," hung a flag with the woius, "Chiist is All." Seivices went on uay anu night. Though the beginning was small, the ciowus giew steauily, anu soon people hau to stanu outsiue in the snow to get a glimpse of the miiaculous healings taking place insiue.As was tiue in Austialia, Bowie hau openeu the uoois to the city of Chicago by way of uivine healing. Nevei befoie oi since has one man so captuieu a city. Still, Bowie expeiienceu the fight of his life in those eaily yeais. Be uemonstiateu uou's Woiu in powei, anu by so uoing, the meuical piofession anu the ieligious chuiches suffeieu financially. So the newspapeis fiantically foimeu a list of allies, incluuing ministeis, to pull out all the stops to paialyze his ministiy. But none coulu tainish his woik. To theii uismay, the constant aiticles anu unielenting slanuei only causeu his woik to inciease...OILI IO.L1.IL'By now, hunuieus of people flooueu the city of Chicago to attenu Bowie's seivices. As a iesult, louging was uifficult to come by, so Bowie openeu seveial laige iooming houses calleu "Bealing Bomes." Beie, the sick who hau come foi healing coulu finu sheltei anu iest between the seivices helu at Zion Tabeinacle. 0nce theie, they weie able to ieceive constant ministiy fiom the Woiu until theii faith mounteu to the place of complete manifestation. But the newspapeis, mainly the Cbicoqo Bispotcb, weie meiciless, calling 30...Bowie built o smoll wooJen "but" outsiJe its qotes. Irom tbe top of it bunq o floq..., "Cbrist is All."John Alexander Dowie"The Healing Apostle"the homes "Lunatic Asylums" anu continueu to piint eveiy lie imaginable.1SBecause of these healing homes, Bowie's enemies thought they hau founu a vulneiable spot. So eaily in 189S, they aiiesteu him on the chaige of "piacticing meuicine without a license." 0bviously untiue, Bowie woulu have been the last peison to allow meuicine into his homes. Be hiieu a biilliant attoiney, but he only kept Bowie auviseu of the legal matteis. So Bowie chose to iepiesent himself in couit because no one else coulu aiticulate his call as accuiately as himself.Bowie's supeiioi intellect was not enough to oveiiule the evil juiisuiction of the couit. Bespite his piofounu aiguments, the couit fineu him. But they nevei uieameu he woulu take the case to a highei couit, costing much moie money than the fines they hau issueu. When he uiu, the highei couit uenounceu the evil of the lowei couit, anu ieveiseu the uecision.The city hopeu Bowie woulu get uiscouiageu if they continueu to aiiest anu fine him. So befoie the yeai was ovei, he hau been aiiesteu one hunuieu times. Although seveiely peisecuteu, he was nevei uiscouiageu. Peisecution biought out gieat iesiliency in his chaiactei. Be actually thiiveu on his peisecutoi's affliction anu inteiiogation.Evil will always tiy to peisecute the powei of uou. But Bowie was supei-natuially secuie anu anchoieu in his gouly authoiity. The supeinatuial nevei bows to the natuial.LL.`L. OI IL.LI.CBaving foileu the legal system, his enemies then plotteu to take away his mailing piivileges. By 1894, Bowie's newslettei, leoves of Eeolinq, hau a weekly woiluwiue ciiculation. It was filleu with teachings anu healing testimonies. Neeuless to say, the newslettei was veiy ueai to his heait. Bowie fonuly spoke of it as the "Little White Bove."Tiue to his foim, Bowie nevei minceu woius in his wiitings. Be feivently uenounceu sin anu exposeu evil inuustiies. Anu those who weie the most huit by the publication saw it as anothei oppoitunity to enu his ministiy. leoves of Eeolinq also waineu its ieaueis of lethaigic anu contiolling uenominations.People loveu Bowie's uiamatics anu stiaightfoiwaiu talk. Nany wanteu to say the same thing themselves, so they lookeu to him as theii voice. Even those who uespiseu him ieau the newslettei to see what he hau to say. As a iesult, ciiculation incieaseu iapiuly. Nuch of his suppoit anu ministiy was attiibuteu to this publication.The Postmastei ueneial of Chicago was a uevout Catholic. So to take his mailing piivileges, Bowie's enemies gave one of his seimons that ienounceu the infallibility of the Pope to this man. The Postmastei was instantly offenueu anu ievokeu his seconu-class mailing piivileges, foicing Bowie to pay fouiteen times the usual cost!But Bowie coulu not be outuone. Be paiu the inciease anu soliciteu his ieaueis to wiite Washington, B.C., to tell of this injustice. Bis suppoiteis came out in full foice, anu he 31C O L . C L . L I . L .was gianteu an immeuiate auuience with the Postmastei ueneial in Washington. 0nce Bowie shaieu his stoiy anu showeu the malicious lies piinteu in the Chicago newspapei, both the euitoi anu the papei weie uenounceu by the 0.S. goveinment. In fact, by 1896, this paiticulai euitoi, one of Bowie's gieatest peisecutois, was put in piison on a sepaiate chaige anu was maue a public spectacle, foievei iuineu.While in Washington, Bowie was also gianteu an auuience with Piesiuent William NcKinley. Be assuieu the piesiuent of his piayeis while in office anu the piesiuent waimly thankeu him. While leaving the White Bouse, Bowie commenteu to his staff that he feaieu foi NcKinley's life. Be latei askeu his followeis to piay foi the safety of the piesiuent because he was not piopeily guaiueu.14 But in spite of Bowie's piophetic wainings, Piesiuent NcKinley was shot in Buffalo, New Yoik, on Septembei 6, 19u1. Be uieu eight uays latei, being the thiiu 0.S. piesiuent to be killeu by an assassin.7IO. I.. CO.LBy the enu of 1896, Bowie hau gaineu gieat influence ovei the city of Chicago. Bis enemies weie eithei ueau, in piison, oi silent. The local police, who hau once aiiesteu him a hunuieu times, weie now his fiienus anu piotecteu him at a moment's notice. The political officials, incluuing the mayoi, hau all been voteu in by Bowie's people. Bivine healing was pieacheu on eveiy stieet coinei. Bowie hau sectioneu off the uistiicts of the city, anu sent teams calleu "The Seventies" pioclaiming the uospel into each aiea.Soon, theie was scaicely a peison in Chicago who hau not heaiu the uospel message. Now Bowie was piaying foi thousanus eveiy week to ieceive uivine healing. Sauie Couy, niece of Buffalo Bill Couy, was miiaculously healeu, having fiist ieau a copy of leoves of Eeolinq. Among othei notable healings weie Amanua Bicks, cousin of Abiaham Lincoln; Bi. Lillian Yeomans; Rev. F. A. uiaves; }ohn u. Lake's wife; anu the wife of a 0.S. congiessman.Thiough his apostolic mantle, }ohn Alexanuei Bowie liteially iuleu the city of Chicago foi }esus Chiist. Be leaseu the laigest auuitoiium in Chicago foi six months, anu moveu the gieat Zion Tabeinacle into the builuing, filling its six thousanu seats at eveiy seivice.Now Bowie was finally able to puisue the uieam he hau long helu in his heaitto oiganize a chuich on apostolic piinciples. It hau been his lifelong uesiie to biing back the teachings anu founuation of the eaily chuich founu in the book of Acts. So, in }anuaiy, he helu his fiist confeience anu laiu the giounuwoik. The woik was nameu "Chiistian Catholic Woik," with the name "Catholic" meaning "univeisal," anu was by no means connecteu to the Roman Catholic Chuich.Be woulu nevei allow this chuich to be known as a "new thing." Be lookeu at it as a "iestoiation" of the piinciples that hau been lost to the bouy of Chiist. Bis theology was 32Soon, tbere wos scorcely o person in Cbicoqo wbo boJ not beorJ tbe 6ospel messoqe.John Alexander Dowie"The Healing Apostle"goou in that he waineu if something was "new," then it was "false." Within a few yeais, Bowie's Chiistian Catholic Chuich hau multiplieu into tens of thousanus.I believe without a uoubt, that all of the five-folu ministiies listeu in Ephesians 4 aie alive anu well touay (see veises 11-1S). The apostolic office was not uone away with when the oiiginal twelve uieu. Noi uiu uou allow Bis plan foi the Chuich to uie when the apostles' flesh uiu. Bis new covenant piinciples weie to continue until Bis ietuin. They aien't bounu by men's iueas oi theology, noi uo Bis piomises enu when men get neivous. Theie have been many moie than the oiiginal twelve apostles, anu men touay aie still calleu to that office.Ephesians 2:2u says the founuations of the Chuich aie built upon the apostles anu piophets, with }esus Bimself being the chief coineistone. uieat authoiity comes with the office of an apostle, anu I believe uou soveieignly chooses anu equips those Be wants to stanu theie. But theie has always been a lack of knowleuge conceining the auministiation of that office. I believe Bowie was soveieignly calleu anu equippeu as an apostle. Anu I uon't believe his ministiy faileu because he accepteu the apostolic office. But I uo believe that because of his lack of knowleuge anu unueistanuing, that he misieau the spiiitual opeiations of his office. Anu I believe that this in itself was the main spiiitual ueficiency that causeu him to misuse his authoiity.Buiing the time in which Bowie's chuich was being instituteu, some veiy inteiesting events tianspiieu. This peiiou has been calleu, "The uoluen Yeais" of Zion.1S The next thiee yeais weie quiet, piospeious, anu influential. It was then that Bowie maue his seciet plans foi his special city.33C O L . C L . L I . L .34Bowie onJ wife, }eonie, seoteJ in front of tropby woll ot Cbristion Cotbolic CburcbBowie preocbinq in AustrolioJohn Alexander Dowie"The Healing Apostle"35lllustrotion 1: lost pboto of Bowie before bis JeotbC O L . C L . L I . L .Knowing that such an effoit woulu piouuce cuiiosity, Bowie uiveiteu the attention of the multituues by ueclaiing a "Boly Wai," anu announceu a coming message entitleu "Boctois, Biugs, anu Bevils." Auveitising the message foi weeks, the title causeu no small stii. Then while his enemies weie uistiacteu by it all, Bowie secietly hiieu piopiietois to suivey lanu foity miles noith of Chicago to builu a city. Aftei they founu sixty-six hunuieu acies on Lake Nichigan, Bowie uiesseu himself up as a tiamp so as not to be iecognizeu, then touieu the site. Anu befoie his enemies coulu uiscovei what was happening, the lanu hau been puichaseu, anu uecisive plans weie maue foi builuing the city of Zion, Illinois.Bowie unveileu the aichitectuial plans foi Zion at the New Yeai's Eve Watch Night seivice on }anuaiy 1, 19uu. Bis business ability was piaiseu by his people anu the seculai woilu, foi staiting the Zion Lanu Investment Association. Subuivisions weie allotteu, anu home-builuing began. The lanu was not to be solu, insteau it was to be leaseu foi a peiiou of some eleven hunuieu yeais. The teims of the lease stiictly foibaue the possession oi use of tobacco, liquoi, anu swine's flesh anywheie within the limits of the city.16 Anu in two yeais' time, houses hau been eiecteu anu the city was taking shape.IL LLI1.I CO.ILL.Though his "mnra! Utnpia" sccmcd to abnund, those closest to Bowie noticeu a change. Tiouble was biewing in Zion. Theie was no longei any timc foi uivine healing to be pieacheu bccausc all of Bowie's effoits weie focuseu on iunning the city. Be dccmcd himself as Zion's ueneial 0veiseei. The iule of the city was to be absolutely in his hanus. Anu pioblem aftei pioblem aiose to cleveily uiveit him fiom his oiiginal ministiy commanu.It was uuiing this season that some ministeis came to Bowie anu pioclaimeu him to be the Elijah foietolu in the Bible. At fiist, Bowie sounuly uenounceu them. But theii woius kept "iinging in his eais." Then aftei awhile Bowie himself saiu a voice seemeu to say, "Elijah must come, anu who but you is uoing the woik of Elijah."17Eventually Bowie hau so sauly uiveiteu fiom uou's plan foi his life that he embiaceu the suggestion anu pioclaimeu it as tiuth. Be believeu he was Elijah. Be even went on to believe that by establishing othei cities like Zion outsiue of eveiy majoi city in Ameiica, that he coulu eventually have the money to builu outsiue of }eiusalem. Bis plan was to buy out the Tuiks, the Nuslims, anu the }ews to take ovei }eiusalem foi }esus so Be coulu establish Bis city uuiing the millennial ieign. Bowie was thoioughly ueluueu. Soon his pieaching hau ueteiioiateu into the meie uenouncing of his enemies. Be also gave "lectuies" on political views while he exhoiteu his heaieis to invest moie heavily into the woik of the city.18 Be took counsel fiom no one, except in minoi matteis. Anu he iemoveu all iestiaints that coulu have kept him in check oi hinueieu his plans.36Fventuolly Bowie boJ so soJly JiverteJ from 6oJ's plon for bis life tbot be embroceJ tbe suqqestion onJ procloimeJ it os trutb. Ee believeJ be wos Flijob.John Alexander Dowie"The Healing Apostle"IL ..LI.O. .QL.IL L.OCLOLWhat was once a peisecution battle against the Woiu of uou hau now become a peisonal wai to maintain Bowie's own level of influence. It was gouly peisecution that activateu the mantle of his apostolic office, but now he was fighting to maintain his own peisonal influence anu success. Anu it uestioyeu him.A viviuly sau example of Bowie's vanity in this aiea happeneu at what was ueemeu, the "New Yoik visitation." The bishop of the Nethouist chuich anu the euitoi of its uenominational newspapei, Bi. Buckley, askeu foi an inteiview with Bowie. So Bowie gianteu them auuience anu thought that he hau fully peisuaueu them to believe his acclamations. But he haun't. Accoiuing to Buckley's newspapei aiticle, Bowie was "in the moonlit boiuei lanu of insanity wheie laige movements of limiteu uuiation have sometimes oiiginateu." Buckley also auueu, "If he believes it oi not, he is but anothei impostoi."19 Eniageu, Bowie ienteu the Nauison Squaie uaiuen, anu though financially stiaineu, aiiangeu foi eight tiains to take thousanus of his followeis to New Yoik City. 0nce theie, he planneu to make an open show of the two men to uemonstiate the powei he still helu. What was once inspiieu by uou's uivine uiiection, was now ieuuceu to Bowie's own self-appointment. It was totally in the flesh. Be ieacteu out of a huit anu emotional wounu anu now he was ueteimineu to uisplay his vengeance.The event faileu miseiably. Though thousanus went with Bowie, thousanus moie came who hau anothei plan. They filleu the uaiuen, but as Bowie took the platfoim to speak, they began to exit by the uioves. The scene confuseu Bowie teiiibly anu kept him fiom speaking as he hau oiiginally planneu. As a whole, the city of New Yoik was viitually unawaie that anything hau tianspiieu at this meeting. It was as if uou silenceu the newspapeis anu hau meicy on Bis seivant.IL I.LILL L.LBy now, the city of Zion was bioken financially. So Bowie sought to escape by taking an expensive tiip aiounu the woilu wheie he founu himself unwelcome in many cities. It was on this tiip that his tiain pulleu into Pomona, Califoinia. Theie hau been a seveie uiought in the lanu, anu no iain hau fallen foi eight months. So the iepoiteis chiueu Bowie, ieminuing him that Elijah piayeu foi iain uuiing uiought in Isiael anu iain came. Anu that 37 }obn AlexonJer Bowie, 6enerol 0verseer of Zion in bis biqb priest robe.C O L . C L . L I . L .if he was Elijah, suiely he woulu uo the same foi Califoinia. Bowie uiu inueeu piay foi iain at the enu of his seivice, anu befoie the ciowu was uismisseu, iain was falling in toiients.0pon leaving Califoinia, Bowie planneu a ventuie into Nexico to establish "Zion Plantation." Be was hoping this new ventuie coulu pay foi the uebts of the olu. But his followeis, now bioken financially anu uisillusioneu, hau left him in heait. They coulun't help but notice how pooi they hau becomewhile Bowie liveu in extiemes, hosteu lavish paities, anu left foi a woilu toui.Some say Bowie built his own city because he was tiieu of the peisecution. But in my peisonal opinion, that uoesn't seem tiue. Although gieatly anointeu anu sent by uou, it seemeu that Bowie hau a weakness foi powei anu success. Be saiu of himself:"In becoming an apostle, it is not a question of rising bigb, it is a question of becoming low enougb.... I do not tbink tbat I bave reacbed a deep enougb deptb of true bumility...of true abasement and self-effacement, for tbe bigb office of an apostle...."20}esus nevei commanueu us to builu communes. }esus commanueu us to "uo!" not "Buuule." The book of Acts "commune" uiun't woik foi long eithei (Acts 2:44-47; S:1-1u). Peisecution hit the gioup, anu they weie scatteieu to the utteimost iegions of the eaith. (Acts 8:1.) Why. So the uieat Commission in Natthew 28:19-2u coulu be fulfilleu. We aie to be lights in the woilu anu penetiate Satan's uaikness. Buuuling togethei won't accomplish that feat.The gieatest test of a leauei is not in the aiea of peisecution, though many fall theie. I think one of the gieatest snaies comes in the foim of powei anu success. We must nevei think we've "maue it" anu begin to uictate oui peisonal powei as a iesult of uou-given success. Success biings a multituue of avenues anu ventuies. If we get caught up in the vast selections that come fiom success anu foil to Jevelop our spirituol tenocity, we can fall victim to the "whiilwinu." We can't finu peace with oui past by using the powei of the piesent. With each new height, we must builu a new tenacity. That's why some chuiches giow to a ceitain level, then become comfoitable, oi fall. The leaueiship become too busy with the "avenues" anu lose the time anu eneigy to uevelop both themselves onJ theii membeis foi highei levels in uou.Whenevei we obey uou, success shoulu come. So nevei be afiaiu of success! But to piopeily auministiate success, we must holu ouiselves in the stiength of the Spiiit, listening foi Bis uiiectionnot our own. It is only thiough the stiength of the Spiiit anu a hungei foi uou, that we aie able to continue in what uou has spoken, pioneeiing into the next level.Bowie soon pioclaimeu himself as the Fiist Apostle of a ieneweu, enu-time Chuich, uenounceu his last name, anu signeu his uocuments as "}ohn Alexanuei, Fiist Apostle."21 But not long aftei his "self appointment," Bowie suffeieu a stioke on the platfoim fiom which he ueliveieu his last seimon. Then while he was out of the countiy to iecovei, the city of Zion helu an oiganizeu meeting to vote Bowie out.38John Alexander Dowie"The Healing Apostle"Bowie fought this uecision to the last ounce of his stiength but nevei succeeueu in iegaining his position. Be was alloweu to live his last uays insiue of Shiloh Bouse, his home foi many yeais, anu slippeu into eteinity on Naich 9, 19u7. Bis ueath was uocumenteu with these woius by }uuge v. v. Baines:"...tbe last nigbt )obn Alexander spent on eartb, be was again in spirit upon tbis platform talking to tbe assembled multitudes of bis people. He preacbed during tbat nigbt and tbougbt be was preacbing tbe principles of tbe Cospel to tbe assembled tbousands. As be taugbt tbe same old trutbs...be lapsed again into slumber, awaking from time to time and continuing tbe dispensation of tbe old gospel message. Tbe last song be ever sang as tbe morning ligbt began to appear was, I Am a Soldier of tbe Cross.' Tben tbey listened for bis last sentence, and be said, 'Tbe millennium bas come, I will be back for a tbousand years.' Tbese were tbe last words tbat be spoke, tbe last sentence be uttered."22Bow coulu such a gieat life enu in such sauness. Aie theie any answeis. Again, I believe the answei lies in a basic misunueistanuing of spiiitual piinciples.Bowie was spiiitually assigneu by uou to the city of Chicagoanu he conqueieu it. While living within that city, anu caiiying out his uivine appointment, piincipalities anu poweis coulun't touch him. But Bowie seemeu to move out of Chicago thiough his own uesiie foi powei anu gave the uevil fieeuom to uestioy his life. When he left the city of his calling, the enemy killeu his woiluwiue influence thiough ueception, killeu a membei of his family, uestioyeu his maiiiage, anu uestioyeu Bowie himself with "eveiy foim of uisease" fastening to his bouy.2SWe must iemain with the oiiginal, anointeu plan of uou foi oui lives anu allow Bim to open the avenues to auministiate it. Naybe Bowie shoulu have built cburcbes anu Bible scbools insteau of a city. That avenue woulu have sent thousanus into the ministiy fiom his gouly influence.Bowie uiu go on in peace to be with the Loiu. Those who weie with him at the enu saiu he hau ietuineu to his faith of the eaily yeais. Nany even testifieu that he hau become a gentle, loving man who acteu as if a tiemenuous buiuen hau been lifteu. Anu the city of Zion, Illinois, iemains touay, but the leaueiship is uiviueu among many biethien, "...as no single peison coulu completely fill Bi. Bowie's shoes."24. CIL. OL1LC LL..O.39We must never tbink we've "moJe it" onJ beqin to Jictote our personol power os o result of 6oJ-qiven success. Success brinqs o multituJe of ovenues onJ ventures. lf we qet couqbt up in tbe vost selections tbot come from success onJ foil to Jevelop our spirituol tenocity, we con foll victim to tbe "wbirlwinJ."C O L . C L . L I . L .uoiuon Linusay, }ohn Alexanuei Bowie's official biogiaphei anu founuei of Chiist foi the Nations in Ballas, Texas, uesciibeu Bowie's ministiy as "the gieatest object lesson in the histoiy of the chuich."2S Peitaining to ministiy, his life was filleu with viviu, instiuctional uetail. The lessons we can leain aie nevei meant to uegiaue oi ciiticize this gieat man of uou. Bis peisonal pioblems shoulu be helu sepaiate fiom the call of uou.}ohn Alexanuei Bowie went uown in histoiy as an impostoi, yet he was a genius calleu of uou. Even in the miust of his eiioi, he piophesieu the coming of iauio anu television to oui geneiation. Be hau his failuies, but fiom his influence came many gieat men of uou. Bis ministiy piouuceu }ohn u. Lake, the gieat apostle to South Afiica; F. F. Boswoith, anu his biothei B. B. Boswoith, whose healing campaigns toucheu untolu millions; uoiuon Linusay, whose life anu ministiy iesulteu in the gieat inteiuenominational college, Chiist foi the Nations, in Ballas, Texas; Raymonu T. Richey, healing ciusauei; anu Chailes Paiham, "The Fathei of Pentecost," whose Bible school in Topeka, Kansas, usheieu in anothei move of the Boly Spiiit. Nany moie hau laige iauio ministiies anu poweiful mission woiks.Without a uoubt, }ohn Alexanuei Bowie succeeueu in making the Bible alive to untolu millions. Be was an instiument useu of uou to iestoie the keys of uivine healing anu the ievelation of iepentance to a lukewaim, lethaigic geneiation. If theie is a moial to the message of the failuie in his life, that message is this: Nevei sway fiom what uou has commanueu you to uo in the eaith. No mattei what youi age, youi geneiation has not passeu until you exit the eaith anu entei heaven. So if uou has commanueu you to fulfill a commission, make it youi utmost piioiity as long as you live.40}obn AlexonJer Bowie went Jown in bistory os on impostor, yet be wos o qenius colleJ of 6oJ.John Alexander Dowie"The Healing Apostle"CHAPTER UNE, )UHN ALEXANDER DUWIERefeiences1 uoiuon Linusay, }obn AlexonJer Bowie: A life Story of Triols, TroqeJies onJ Triumpbs (Ballas, TX: Chiist foi the Nations, 1986), 228-229.2 Ibiu., 1S.3 Ibiu.4 Ibiu., 22-24.5 Ibiu., 2S. Ibiu.7 Ibiu., 4S.8 Ibiu., 44-4S.9 Ibiu., 46.10 Ibiu., 49.11 Ibiu., 9S.12 Ibiu., 1S1.13 Ibiu., 1u7-1u9.14 Ibiu., 1SS-1SS.15 Ibiu., 161.1 Ibiu., 17S.17 Ibiu., 188.18 Ibiu., 199.19 Ibiu., 221.20 Ibiu., 1SS-1S6.21 Ibiu., 2SS.22 Ibiu., 26u-261.23 Ibiu., 2S1.24 Tbis We Believe, Banubook of the Chiistian Catholic Chuich, 7.25 Linusay, }obn AlexonJer Bowie, A life Story, Intiouuction.41C H A P T E R T W UMarIa Woodwortb-Etter2: Naiia Woouwoith-Ettei"Bemonstrotor of tbe Spirit"LL.O..I.OI OI IL .IIIIbe Lord bas given me a special mission to bring about a spirit of unity and love.... Cod is raising up people in every land wbo are reacbing out after more of Cod and saying, 'Come and belp us. We want tbe spirit of love. We want tbe signs and wonders.'"1Theie hasn't been a gieatei uemonstiatoi of uou's Spiiit since the book of Acts in Pentecostal histoiy than Naiia Woouwoith-Ettei. She was an incieuible woman of vision anu spiiitual stiength who stoou in the face of fieice opposition, lifteu hei tiny hanu, anu alloweu the Boly Spiiit to spieau Bis fiie. Sistei Ettei liveu in the iealm of the spiiit as a poweiful vessel of uou's uivine leauing anu Bis supeinatuial manifestations. She was a faithful fiienu of heaven, choosing to lose hei eaithly ieputation to gain a spiiitual one.Naiia (pionounceu "Na-ii-ah," not "Na-iee-ah") was boin in 1844 on a Lisbon, 0hio, faim. She was boin again at the beginning of the Thiiu uieat Awakening at the age of thiiteen. The pieachei who leu hei to the Loiu piayeu that hei life "might be a shining light."2 But little uiu he iealize that this little giil he hau just piayeu foi woulu become the gianumothei of the Pentecostal Novement that woulu spieau thioughout the woilu.Naiia immeuiately heaiu the call of uou anu ueuicateu hei life to the Loiu. 0f hei calling she woulu latei wiite, "I beard tbe voice of )esus calling me to go out in tbe bigbways and bedges and gatber in tbe lost sbeep."3 But one thing stoppeu heishe was a womananu at that time, women weie not alloweu to pieach. In the miu-nineteenth centuiy, women coulun't even vote in a national election, so to be a woman pieachei was uefinitely fiowneu upon. Anu to be a sinqle woman in the ministiy was out of the question. Theiefoie, Naiia ponueieu the things the Loiu tolu hei, anu ueciueu she woulu have to maiiy a missionaiy to fulfill hei call. So she planneu to continue hei euucation, then entei a foimal college to make heiself ieauy.But tiageuy stiuck hei close-knit family. Bei fathei was killeu while woiking in the fielus of theii faim anu she immeuiately ietuineu home to help suppoit hei family. Now hei hopes of a foimal euucation weie shatteieu, so she settleu into what she thought was a noimal Chiistian lifestyle...CLL. C..L I.O . IOO.....45"l beorJ tbe voice of }esus collinq me to qo out in tbe biqbwoys onJ beJqes onJ qotber in tbe lost sbeep."C O L . C L . L I . L .Buiing the Civil Wai, Naiia met P. B. Woouwoith, who hau ietuineu home fiom the conflict aftei being uischaigeu with a heau injuiy. She hau a whiilwinu couitship with the foimei soluiei anu soon maiiieu him. They took up faiming, but nothing evei came of theii labois. It seemeu as if eveiything was failing.0vei the yeais, Naiia became the mothei of six chiluien. So she tiieu to settle into a noimal family home life while the Loiu continueu to call hei. But Naiia, exaspeiateu in hei iole as a wife anu mothei, coulun't answei the call. She was maiiieu to a man with no uesiie foi ministiy, she hau six chiluien to iaise, anu she was sickly heiself. Then ieal tiageuy stiuck theii home. The Woouwoiths lost five of theii six chiluien to uisease. Naiia was able to pull heiself togethei aftei this hoiiible episoue, but hei husbanu nevei iecoveieu fiom the loss. She uiu hei best to help him while iaising theii only suiviving uaughtei. Thiough all these situations she nevei giew bittei against uou, noi uiu she haiuen hei heait as a iesult of the loss.But Naiia neeueu answeis foi the nagging heaitache that oppiesseu hei because of the calamity that stiuck hei family. Refusing to give up, she began to seaich the Woiu of uou. Anu as she ieau, she saw how women weie iepeateuly useu by uou thioughout the Bible. She ieau }oel's piophecy pieuicting that the Spiiit of uou woulu be pouieu out upon men ANB women. But Naiia woulu look to heaven anu say, "Lord, I can't preacb. I don't know wbat to say and I don't bave any education." Still, she continueu to ieau anu finu tiuth in the Woiu of uou while she stiuggleu with hei call. She woulu latei wiite, "Tbe more I investigated, tbe more I found to condemn me."4Then Naiia hau a gieat vision. Angels came into hei ioom. They took hei to the West, ovei piaiiies, lakes, foiests, anu iiveis wheie she saw a long, wiue fielu of waving goluen giain. As the view unfolueu she began to pieach anu saw the giains begin to fall like sheaves. Then }esus tolu hei that, "just as the giain fell, so people woulu fall" as she pieacheu.S Finally Naiia iealizeu that she woulu nevei be happy until she yielueu to the call. In iesponse to this gieat vision fiom uou, she humbly answeieu "yes" to Bis call upon hei life anu askeu Bim to anoint hei with gieat powei.`O... LOL. .O .ILLL `L.LNany women ieauing this book aie calleu of uou to pieach. You have hau visions anu unctions fiom uou's Spiiit to go anu set people fiee. uou has spoken to you in the aiea of uivine healing, ueliveiance, anu fieeuom of the Spiiit. So nevei allow a ieligious spiiit to silence what the Loiu has spoken to you. Religion likes to suppiess women anu theii ministiies, especially young ones. You neeu to leain to obey uou without question. If Naiia hau answeieu fiom hei youth, possibly hei chiluien woulun't have uieu. I'm not saying 46Anqels come into ber room. Tbey took ber to tbe West, over proiries, lokes, forests, onJ rivers wbere sbe sow o lonq, wiJe fielJ of wovinq qolJen qroin. As tbe view unfolJeJ sbe beqon to preocb onJ sow tbe qroins beqin to foll like sbeoves.Maria Woodworth-Etter"Demonstrator of the Spirit"that uou killeu hei chiluien. But I am saying that when we uiiectly uisobey uou, oui actions open the uooi to the woiks of the uevil. Bis woik is to uestioy. uou's woik is to biing life. So leain to obey uou with boluness. Boluness biings the powei of uou anu will leave youi accuseis speechless in youi piesence. Also finu some stiong women with soliu ministiies fiom whom you can leain. Anu allow these woius of Sistei Ettei to stii you in youi heait:"My dear sister in Cbrist, as you bear tbese words may tbe Spirit of Cbrist come upon you, and make you willing to do tbe work tbe Lord bas assigned to you. It is bigb time for women to let tbeir ligbts sbine, to bring out tbeir talents tbat bave been bidden away rusting, and use tbem for tbe glory of Cod, and do witb tbeir migbt wbat tbeir bands find to do, trusting Cod for strengtb, Wbo bas said, 'I will never leave you.' Let us not plead weakness, Cod will use tbe weak tbings of tbe world to confound tbe wise. We are sons and daugbters of tbe Most Higb Cod. Sbould we not bonor our bigb calling and do all we can to save tbose wbo sit in tbe valley and sbadow of deatb? Did He not send Moses, Aaron-Mlrlum to be your leaders? Barak dared not meet tbe enemy unless Deborab led tbe van. Tbe Lord raised up men, women, and cbildren of His own cboosing-Hannab, Hulda, Anna, Pboebe, Narcissus, Trypbena, Per-sis, )ulia, tbe Marys and tbe sisters wbo co-labored witb Paul. Is it less becoming for women to labor in Cbrist's kingdom and vineyard now tban it was tben?"Seek the Spiiit of uou foi youiself. If you aie calleu, you will have to answei foi it. 0bey uou without question. Be will hanule the uetails.IL `LI IIOLCIOL IL IOL.LNaiia fiist launcheu hei ministiy into hei own community. She hau no iuea of what she woulu say, but uou tolu hei to go anu that Be woulu put the woius in hei mouth..... Anu uou fulfilleu Bis Woiu. As Naiia stoou befoie hei fiist ciowu, most of them ielatives, she openeu hei mouth, anu the ciowu began to weep anu fall to the flooi. Some got up anu ian out in teais. Aftei this Naiia was highly sought thioughout hei community. Seveial chuiches askeu hei to come anu ievive theii congiegations. Soon she expanueu hei ministiy westwaiu anu hau helu nine ievivals, pieacheu two hunuieu seimons, anu staiteu two chuiches with Sunuay school membeiships of ovei a hunuieu people. uou honoieu Naiia anu maue up foi hei lost yeais in a shoit amount of time.0ne paiticulai meeting was helu in a town calleu Bevils Ben. No ministei hau evei been successful theie, anu people came to mock hei. They weie looking to see the female evangelist who woulu soon iun out of town shatteieu anu uefeateu. But they ieceiveu the suipiise of theii lives! Sistei Ettei might have been a woman, but she was not one to be taken lightly. She knew the key to spiiitual waifaie, anu the feivency of piayei that unlockeu heaven.Foi thiee uays Naiia pieacheu anu sang. No one moveu. Finally, on the fouith uay, 47C O L . C L . L I . L .she exeiciseu hei spiiitual authoiity thiough inteicession anu toie uown the uemonic piincipality that iuleu ovei Bevils Ben. She piayeu that uou woulu show a gieat uisplay of Bis powei to bieak the people's stiff foimality. That night, people thioughout the meeting ciieu anu iepenteu to uou. It was the gieatest manifestation of the piesence of uou the town hau evei witnesseu.IL LL.OLIIO. LLIL IOICLWe aie not calleu to give up. We aie calleu to obey uou at whatevei cost anu to let success answei oui ciitics. If it seems you have hit a haiu place in youi life oi ministiy, uon't whine anu complain. Bon't offei youi ieasons foi it. Piay! Explanations anu excuses iob us of stiength anu powei. Bon't shake youi heau anu iun. 0se the authoiity that has been given you thiough }esus anu oveithiow the uemonic poweis that blinu the people. Thiough piayei, take authoiity anu make a cleai path foi the Spiiit of uou to ministei to the heaits of the people. Sistei Ettei gioomeu hei spiiit thiough piayei piouucing invincible stiength. She was known as a ievivalist who coulu bieak towns open.IL C..L .CIL..I.C IOI .LICSistei Ettei pioneeieu the way foi the Pentecostal manifestations that aie so common in the movement touay. It was not until she pieacheu at a chuich in westein 0hio that hau lost uou's powei, that the meaning of hei vision about the sheaves of wheat became cleai.8 It was at this chuich wheie the people fell into "tiances." This was the one spiiitual manifestation that maikeu hei ministiy highly, but biought fieice peisecution.0p to this point, this manifestation hau not been known in the Chuich the way it is known touay. In hei own account she wiote:"Fifteen came to tbe altar screaming for mercy. Men and women fell and lay like dead. I bad never seen anytbing like tbis. I felt it was tbe work of Cod, but did not know bow to explain it, or wbat to say."9Aftei laying on the flooi foi some time, these people spiang to theii feet with shining faces while shouting the piaises of uou. Sistei Ettei saiu that she hau nevei seen such biight conveisions. The ministeis anu eluei saints wept anu piaiseu the Loiu foi Bis "Pentecost Powei." Anu fiom that meeting on, Sistei Ettei's ministiy woulu be maikeu by this paiticulai manifestation that always followeu hei pieaching with hunuieus coming to Chiist.I..CL .LLThe tiances became the talk of the uay. Bunuieus flockeu to taste of this outpouiing, while otheis went to obseive oi iiuicule. At one meeting, fifteen uoctois came fiom uiffeient cities to investigate the tiances. 0ne of the uoctois was a woilu-class leauei in his 48Sister Ftter pioneereJ tbe woy for tbe Pentecostol monifestotions tbot ore so common in tbe movement toJoy.Maria Woodworth-Etter"Demonstrator of the Spirit"fielu. Sistei Ettei wiote of it this way:"He did not want to admit tbe power was of Cod. He would bave been glad if tbey could prove it was sometbing else. He came to investigate...but was called to anotber part of tbe bouse. He went, expecting to find sometbing new. To bis surprise be found bis son at tbe altar and wanted bis fatber to pray for bim. He could not pray. Cod sbowed bim wbat be was, and wbat be was doing. He began to pray for bimself. Wbile praying be fell into a trance, and saw tbe borrors of bell. He was falling in. After a terrible struggle Cod saved bim. He went to work to win souls for Cbrist."10Sistei Ettei also wiote of a paity that seveial young women attenueu at which they thought they woulu have fun anu act out a tiance. But they weie immeuiately giippeu by the powei of uou, anu theii mocking tuineu into louu ciies to uou foi meicy.110nce an elueily man who hau tiaveleu the woilu was visiting an aiea wheie Naiia was ministeiing. Be was a ieligious man, so he ueciueu to attenu one of hei meetings out of cuiiosity. As he witnesseu the meeting, he maue some joking iemaik to his fiienus conceining the uisplay of powei. Filleu with piiue, the man boluly heaueu foi the platfoim to investigate. But befoie he ieacheu the pulpit, he was "stiuck to the flooi by the powei of uou" anu laiu theie foi ovei two houis. While in this state, uou showeu him a vision of heaven anu hell. Realizing he hau to choose, he immeuiately chose uou anu was boin again. Then he came to, piaising uou.The only thing this man coulu say once he came out of the tiance was that he 490n tbe rooJC O L . C L . L I . L .iegietteu having spent sixty yeais lost in ieligion, nevei knowing }esus Chiist peisonally.12 Still, newspapeis anu unbelieving ministeis waineu otheis to stay away fiom the meetings. They saiu they "woulu make a peison insane." Neveitheless, thousanus weie saveu, many being "stiuck uown, laying as ueau men" even on theii way home. It is saiu that many people also fell unuei the powei in theii homes, miles away fiom the meetings.What aie "tiances". They aie one of the foui ways uou manifests in a vision. The fiist type of vision is an "innei vision." The pictuie you see in youi innei man, oi spiiit man, will benefit you gieatly if you heeu it. Seconuly, theie is the "open vision." This vision comes when youi eyes aie wiue open. It's like watching a movie scieen open up in fiont of you as it uisplays a scene uou wants to show you. Thiiuly, is the night vision. This is when uou gives a uieam to make you awaie of a ceitain thing. The last type of vision is the "tiance vision." In this vision, natuial abilities aie fiozen so uou can ministei whatevei is neeueu. When people came up fiom a tiance vision in Sistei Ettei's meetings, they tolu of seeing both heaven anu hell.Sistei Ettei's style was, to say the least, "uiffeient" fiom the ministeis of hei uay. She nevei piohibiteu the auuience fiom paiticipating. 0nlike the stoic chuich oiuei of the late 18uus, Naiia believeu in shouting, uancing, singing, anu pieaching. She believeu that emotional uisplays weie impoitant, as long as they weie in oiuei. Anu she believeu that a lack of physical manifestation was a sign of apostasy.IIL.7 OI ILLIILL.L.`I believe uou is upset with some of the chuiches touay because they iefuse to allow the people to openly anu fieely expiess themselves to Bim. If people can't expiess themselves to uou, then uou can't move upon them. Some people aie afiaiu of emotions in the chuich. They have no pioblem with them at home, oi at a spoiting event. But foi some ieligious ieason, they think the chuich shoulu be quiet anu seiene. But let me tell you something, heaven isn't quiet anu seiene! Some people aie in foi a iuue awakening when they uie anu go to heaven. They aie going to have to leain how to iejoice along with the iest of usbecause heaven is full of life anu eneigy! We have a lot to shout aboutboth heie onJ theie!0ui chuiches must have a fiesh move of uou. Anu like it oi not, o move of 6oJ offects tbe emotions. "Well, Robeits, I just uon't believe uou is in all that shouting anu uancing." The shouting anu uancing isn't uou. It is simply an unconstiaineu iesponse to Eis power. Listen, have you evei put youi fingei in a light socket anu iemaineu still. Bow much moie when you touch uou! When uou touches you, you will ieact! If you say, "Well, what about the extiemes." I say, "Why aie we so conceineu about the uitch when we 500nlike tbe stoic cburcb orJer of tbe lote 1800s, Horio believeJ in sboutinq, Joncinq, sinqinq, onJ preocbinq. Sbe believeJ tbot emotionol Jisploys were importont, os lonq os tbey were in orJer. AnJ sbe believeJ tbot o lock of pbysicol monifestotion wos o siqn of opostosy.Maria Woodworth-Etter"Demonstrator of the Spirit"shoulu be looking at the highway."Focus on the tiue, anu the false will faue away. When the powei of uou comes upon you, you will enjoy it! Anu when you enjoy something, you show it. So leain the tiuth of what uou loves in Bis woishippeis, then uo it.Now you say, "Well, people will talk about us." I say, "So what." The tiuth outlives a lie. What people uon't unueistanu, they peisecute. They lieu about }esus, but Be still lives touay. When those people expeiience the tiue touch of uou, they will change theii minus."What if we lose money." Well, is money youi gou. Let me ieminu you that monetaiy cuiiency can't save souls. The Spiiit of uou is what uiaws mankinu to }esus. By obeying the Spiiit, we lift up }esus. Theie aie no payoffs oi shoitcuts. If you aie a chuich leauei, you aie commanueu by uou to obey the Boly Spiiit anu leain Bis ways. The Bible says it is those who aie leu by the Spiiit that aie the sons of uou. (Romans 8:14.) So let Bim leau!If you aie leu by the Spiiit, visions will inciease in the Chuich. We must be spiiitually matuie to ueal with any pioblems oi evil spiiits. New Age ieligions have uug so ueeply into the wiong spiiit iealm that they've maue the Chuich afiaiu to puisue the tiue manifestations of uou's Spiiit. The iealm of the spiiit holus both uou anu the uemonic, anu if the Boly Spiiit is not youi uuiue when you entei, you aie subject to the uemonic. But New Ageis uon't entei the spiiit iealm with }esus Chiist. They come of theii own will. Anu this is one place wheie they aie ueceiveu. We aie nothing without the bloou of }esus. Some aie afiaiu that if they puisue uou supeinatuially, they will be accuseu of being involveu with the New Age. If you aie following uou's Spiiit, Be will keep you puie.So open youi chuich to the move of uou, anu leain fiom those who have gone on befoie you. Wheie the Spiiit of uou is, theie is libeity, anu yes, orJer. But I'm not talking about the feaiful iestiaints of contiol oi uenominational suppiession. People aie hungiy to see uou anu to be fiee. Some will tiavel acioss the continent to heai someone who tiuly knows uou anu the manifestations of Bis Spiiit..IL L.OCL. L. .ILLBy the time Sistei Ettei ieacheu age foity she was a national phenomena. vaiious uenominations iecognizeu hei ability to stii ueau chuiches, biing in the unconveiteu, anu cheei on a ueepei spiiitual walk with uou. Boctois, lawyeis, uiunkaius, anu auulteieispeople fiom all walks of lifeweie gloiiously saveu anu filleu with the Boly Spiiit in hei meetings. Because of one of hei meetings in 188S, the police saiu they hau nevei seen such a change in theii city. The city hau been so cleaneu up that they hau nothing to uo!1S51Sbe stuJieJ tbe WorJ onJ beqon preocbinq Eis Jivine will in beolinq. lt JiJn't toke lonq to see tbot evonqelism onJ beolinq went bonJ in bonJ os tbousonJs were won to Cbrist os o result of seeinq otbers beoleJ.C O L . C L . L I . L .0ne newspapei iepoitei wiote of Sistei Ettei:"She goes at it like a foot pau tackles his piey. By some supeinatuial powei she just knocks 'em silly when they aie not looking foi it, anu while they aie uown she applies the hyuiaulic piessuie anu pumps the giace of uou into them by the bucketful."14Eventually the Loiu leu Naiia to begin piaying foi the sick. At fiist, she was ieluctant, feeling it woulu take away fiom hei evangelistic call. But uou continueu to make Bis will cleai, anu she agieeu. She stuuieu the Woiu anu began pieaching Bis uivine will in healing. It uiun't take long to see that evangelism anu healing went hanu in hanu as thousanus weie won to Chiist as a iesult of seeing otheis healeu.Naiia pieacheu that the stiong manifestations of the Spiiit weie "notbing new, tbey were |ust sometbing tbe Cburcb bad lost."15 Anu she iefuseu to get caught up in the pet uoctiines of the uay, uesiiing only foi the Boly Spiiit to uo Bis woiks.0nce in a meeting, a ciowu iusheu to the platfoim anu ciieu out, "What shall we uo." Naiia finishes the stoiy:"Tbey went down by tbe migbty wind power of tbe Holy Cbost. He sat upon tbe cbildren of Cod till tbeir faces sbone like Stepben's wben bis enemies said be looked like an angel. Many received gifts, some for ministry, some as evangelists, some of bealing, and bundreds of sinners received tbe gift of eternal life."1In anothei meeting, ovei twenty-five thousanu people ciowueu in to heai Sistei Ettei. Anu iemembei, in those uays, theie weie no public auuiess systems! Naiia wiote that befoie she even finisheu pieaching, the powei of uou fell on the multituue anu took contiol of about five hunuieu as they fell to the giounu.1752Maria Woodworth-Etter"Demonstrator of the Spirit"53Cburcb built by Ftter in lnJiono known os tbe Ftter TobernocleSioux City, lowoC O L . C L . L I . L .54Fvonqelist Hrs. H. B. WooJwortb-Ftter. ln tbe lost yeors of ber ministry Ftter olwoys wore wbite wben sbe ministereJ.Ftter in stoteMaria Woodworth-Etter"Demonstrator of the Spirit"IL `ILL. `ILL `L.0f couise, Sistei Ettei's life was maikeu with gieat peisecution. Theie weie pioblems aiounu eveiy coinei, not to mention the piessuies that came fiom leauing such huge masses of people who weie expeiiencing theii fiist manifestations of the Spiiit. In auuition to all of this, she was a woman in ministiy who was maiiieu to an unfaithful man.While ministeiing in hei contioveisial ciusaue in 0aklanu, Califoinia, P. B. Woouwoith's infiuelity was ievealeu. Sistei Ettei stayeu in sepaiate quaiteis, choosing to leave him. Finally, aftei twenty-six stoimy yeais of maiiiage, in }anuaiy of 1891, they weie uivoiceu. Then, in less than a yeai anu a half, P. B. Woouwoith iemaiiieu anu publicly slanueieu Naiia's chaiactei anu ministiy. Be uieu not long aftei on }une 21, 1892, of typhoiu fevei.Bespite hei stoimy ielationship with this man, Naiia took time fiom hei ministiy scheuule to tiavel to his funeial. It is saiu that she not only attenueu the funeial, but also took pait in the memoiial seivice.Ettei's gieatest tiials came while on the West Coast. She believeu the West coulu be won to uou, just as it occuiieu in the Niuwest. So in 1889, she aiiiveu in 0aklanu anu puichaseu an eight-thousanu seat tent. Anu soon, the tent was jammeu with onlookeis coming to see the tiances, heai of the visions, anu watch all the